EUGENE LEGGETT

He was born Sept. 28, 1945, to the late Will Leggett and Beatrice Stevenson Leggett in Michigan. He attended Wonder High School in West Memphis, Ark.

Retired Master Sgt. Eugene Leggett was an exceptional noncommissioned officer. He coordinated 22 mobile training teams, both stateside as well as overseas, to such places as Sudan, Chad, Haiti, Djibouti and Honduras. Master Sgt. Leggett was an active participant in various community activities; most notably he was the sports coordinator for HHC, 244th QM Battalion AT Fort Lee. He coached both the football and softball teams to an undefeated season as well as the post championship. He received numerous military honors and sports awards, to include the Purple Heart and Horkan awards.

He is survived by his wife, Bettie L. Leggett; two daughters, Lanitra Jackson of Charlotte, N.C., and Natasha Mahmood of Richmond, Va.; sisters, Corrine Wrotten, Maxine Parker, both of West Memphis, Ark., Genevieve Rossell and Elizabeth Shelton both of Memphis, Tenn,; five grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, from the Chapel of the William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, 137 Harrison St., Petersburg, Va., with the Rev. Dr. Antonio A. Tucker Sr. officiating. Interment will be in Paradise Gardens Cemetery, Edmondson, Ark., at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. In lieu of flowers, memorial monetary gifts may be donated to the Lupus Foundation of America and/or the , under the donation of Eugene Leggett. Arrangements entrusted to the William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home; the Rev. Antonio A. Tucker, funeral director.